Nova Scotia’s tree fruit industry to receive help from government

In 2014, post-tropical storm Arthur ripped through the province, causing significant damage to many apple and pear orchards. This resulted in an outbreak of fire blight — a devastating disease caused by bacteria— that affected 95 per cent of the province’s orchards.

On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Treasury Board President Scott Brison and Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell announced a joint initiative that will help Nova Scotia tree fruit growers recoup losses and minimize future outbreaks. The Fire Blight Initiative will provide up to $2.69 million to assist in launch an industry-led strategy to bring the outbreak under control. The initiative cost shared 60-40 between the federal and provincial governments.

“This (initiative) will help the Nova Scotia apple industry reinvest money to continue to produce high-value fruit and capitalize on the strong export market the industry has developed,” said Andrew Parker, president of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association in a press release.

The funds for the Fire Blight Initiative are available through AgriRecovery, a program that helps governments respond to the the impacts of natural disasters on agriculture. It’s estimated the tree fruit industry brings in close to $16 million per year to the province of Nova Scotia.

“This initiative is representative of the Government of Canada's overall commitment to supporting Canada's agricultural sector and to taking action to support industry recovery,” Brison said.